Lawson Trio, in Oxford

I've been mentally preparing this week for a whole evening (Friday February 13th, 7.30) of my string and piano music in Oxford's Jacqueline du Pré Music Building. It'll be a delight to work once again with the Lawson Trio, plus violist Isobel Neary-Adams.

Occasions where a concert is devoted entirely to your own music are rather rare. And it can be quite psychologically demanding, during a single evening, to follow your own musical development over multiple decades. In this case, the earliest of the pieces being played was written in 1981 - so that will be 45 years of musical cogitation to think about, all at once.

Added to the process of inner searching, I'm going to be conversing with fellow composer Martyn Harry at various points during this programme. One of the pieces we're going to hear is titled How Grass and Trees Become Enlightened. I'm certainly hoping to emerge further enlightened at the end of this evening.

PICTURED - the JdP Music Building is situated in St Hilda's College, and the shape of an ammonite represented here (I don't recall how I got up so close and personal with it on a previous visit) is the college's symbol.